In the next moment, the pressure against Ren's throat disappeared and a rush of air filled his lungs. Head spinning, he staggered to the side and caught himself against the table as his surroundings slowly came back into view.

Jayce was in the room with them. He had drawn a long, sleek dagger and held it pressed to Lord Tyke's throat, backing him against the wall. Ren wanted to warn him of Tyke's strength, but when he parted his lips, he could only cough.

“Men!” Jayce shouted over his shoulder, glancing briefly at Ren as if to make sure he was still on his feet. Several soldiers rushed into the room, gripped Tyke by the elbows and twisted his arms behind his back.

“Release me! This is treason. I will have all your heads on stakes, you worthless dogs!” Lord Tyke hissed and spluttered, forcing Jayce to take several steps back to avoid a spray of spittle.

Ren coughed again, his throat tender as he drew a breath. When he spoke, his voice was barely louder than a whisper before it regained some of its strength. “He was writing to the enemy.” Bending down to pick up the letter he had dropped, he handed it to Jayce with faintly trembling fingers. “Throw him in a cell.”

The soldiers dragged the furious lord out of the room. Ren could hear his curses and insults all across the courtyard until Jayce closed the door.

Ren sank down into the chair by the desk, running a hand over his sore throat.

“Are you all right?” Jayce asked, tearing the letter into pieces and letting them float to the floor. He came forward and leaned against the table next to Ren, placing his hand on Ren's shoulder.

Ren nodded, closing his eyes for a long moment. “I just wasn't expecting things to get worse than they already were.”

“I don't know if this is worse,” Jayce said, offering Ren a half-smile and running his hand over the unmarked side of his face. “If I may be honest, this has been a long time coming, my lord.”

“Lord Tyke is that bad?”

Dropping his head, Jayce nodded. “Yes.”

“Then why did you stay?”

“I didn't know where else I could go.”

“To Aleria,” Ren suggested.

“And do what?” Jayce asked, a smile creasing the corners of his eyes. “Entertain the court with one-handed juggling?”

The joke managed to bring a smile to Ren's face, if only for a moment. When it faded, it gave way to a hopelessness much greater than before. “What happens now?”

Jayce gave him a curious look and turned to face him. “My lord, I don't think I can answer that question. I'm just a physician. You have the highest rank in the fort. Stag's Run is yours.”

“I don't know how to protect these people,” Ren said, a tightness forming in his chest. “I don't know how to protect the North.”